The best college football bets for Week 1, as of August 25, 2026: 8 picks across the week's slate, each one our own number against the bookmaker's price.
On Saturday 29 August 2026,
Virginia Cavaliers host
NC State Wolfpack in college football. The bet we are looking at is NC State Wolfpack 4.5 Point Spread. On this line NC State Wolfpack start with 4.5 points in hand, so they can lose by less than that and this still wins. This is one of the bookmaker's alternate lines, not the main one, so the price is different. It was priced at +104 when we wrote this, so a $10 bet returns $20.40 if it lands. That price was showing at FanDuel. Our model leans this way, without being sure. Prices move, so check the price at your bookmaker before you back it. And if this one does not feel right to you, skipping it is a perfectly good move. On Saturday 29 August 2026,
TCU Horned Frogs host
North Carolina Tar Heels in college football. The bet we are looking at is TCU Horned Frogs -4 Point Spread. On this line TCU Horned Frogs give up 4 points before the game starts, so they have to win by more than 4. This is one of the bookmaker's alternate lines, not the main one, so the price is different. It was priced at -189 when we wrote this, so a $10 bet returns $15.29 if it lands. That price was showing at BetRivers. Our model likes this one a lot. Prices move, so check the price at your bookmaker before you back it. And if this one does not feel right to you, skipping it is a perfectly good move. On Saturday 29 August 2026,
North Dakota State Bison host
Jacksonville State Gamecocks in college football. The bet we are looking at is North Dakota State Bison -8 Point Spread. On this line North Dakota State Bison give up 8 points before the game starts, so they have to win by more than 8. This is one of the bookmaker's alternate lines, not the main one, so the price is different. It was priced at +112 when we wrote this, so a $10 bet returns $21.20 if it lands. That price was showing at BetRivers. Our model leans this way, without being sure. Prices move, so check the price at your bookmaker before you back it. And if this one does not feel right to you, skipping it is a perfectly good move. On Saturday 29 August 2026,
Eastern Michigan Eagles host
Sacramento State Hornets in college football. The bet we are looking at is Over 59 Total Points. This wins if the two sides score more than 59 points between them. This is one of the bookmaker's alternate lines, not the main one, so the price is different. It was priced at +180 when we wrote this, so a $10 bet returns $28 if it lands. That price was showing at BetRivers. Our model has this one as a long shot, so keep the bet small. Prices move, so check the price at your bookmaker before you back it. And if this one does not feel right to you, skipping it is a perfectly good move. On Saturday 29 August 2026,
Stanford Cardinal host
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors in college football. The bet we are looking at is Stanford Cardinal -25.5 Point Spread. On this line Stanford Cardinal give up 25.5 points before the game starts, so they have to win by more than 25.5. This is one of the bookmaker's alternate lines, not the main one, so the price is different. It was priced at +970 when we wrote this, so a $10 bet returns $107 if it lands. That price was showing at DraftKings. Our model has this one as a long shot, so keep the bet small. Prices move, so check the price at your bookmaker before you back it. And if this one does not feel right to you, skipping it is a perfectly good move. On Saturday 29 August 2026,
USC Trojans host
San Jose State Spartans in college football. The bet we are looking at is Over 66.5 Total Points. This wins if the two sides score more than 66.5 points between them. This is one of the bookmaker's alternate lines, not the main one, so the price is different. It was priced at +200 when we wrote this, so a $10 bet returns $30 if it lands. That price was showing at DraftKings. Our model has this one as a long shot, so keep the bet small. Prices move, so check the price at your bookmaker before you back it. And if this one does not feel right to you, skipping it is a perfectly good move. On Saturday 29 August 2026,
Florida State Seminoles host
New Mexico State Aggies in college football. The bet we are looking at is New Mexico State Aggies 27 Point Spread. On this line New Mexico State Aggies start with 27 points in hand, so they can lose by less than that and this still wins. This is one of the bookmaker's alternate lines, not the main one, so the price is different. It was priced at +148 when we wrote this, so a $10 bet returns $24.80 if it lands. That price was showing at BetRivers. Our model has this one as a long shot, so keep the bet small. Prices move, so check the price at your bookmaker before you back it. And if this one does not feel right to you, skipping it is a perfectly good move. On Sunday 30 August 2026,
UNLV Rebels host
Memphis Tigers in college football. The bet we are looking at is UNLV Rebels -7.5 Point Spread. On this line UNLV Rebels give up 7.5 points before the game starts, so they have to win by more than 7.5. This is one of the bookmaker's alternate lines, not the main one, so the price is different. It was priced at +130 when we wrote this, so a $10 bet returns $23 if it lands. That price was showing at Bovada. Our model has this one as a long shot, so keep the bet small. Prices move, so check the price at your bookmaker before you back it. And if this one does not feel right to you, skipping it is a perfectly good move.